Apparatus for making insulators



Dec. 9, 1930. K. A. HAWLEY 1,784,792

APPARATUS FOR MAKING INSULATORS Filed April 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 zjwue'ntoz Ken! A Hawle FIG. 2

' Dec. 9, 1930. HAwLEY 1,784,792 1 RATUS FOR MAKING I Filed Apr 3 FIG-3 Y [.2 i9 /H /l0 7 Patented Dec. 9, i930 unit-an era TIES warez Few KENT a; HAWLEY, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, assienoa TO tooKEinsULl iron con- PQRATION, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A ooarozaarron or MARYLAND APPARATUS roe MAKING INSULATOBS Application filed April 13, i929; serial no. 354,915.-

The invention relates to insulators intended for use in connection with high tension transmission lines and has for its general object the provision of a novel method of and means for making an insulator.

It is well known in the art that it is a common practice to make insulators by casting or by plunging, the former method involving the running of plastic material into suitable molds,and the latter involving the employment of dies whichare moved rela- "vely in a longitudinal direction and which are also usually rotated at the same time for the purpose of compressing the clay and sha sin it. However under the usual l r; i a

methods there are many limitations asinthe' casting process certain shapes will not draw from the molds and, as in the plunging system, an analogous condition exists. It has therefore become necessary tomake certain types of insulators in sections which are cemented together to produ'ce the'finished article.

It is with the above facts in view that I have devised the present invention which has for an important object theprovision of a method of and means for making insulators of shapes whichcould not be made by the known processes, it being'a feature that by my method it is easily possible to make a onepiece insulator having the shape and possess-c ing all the advantages but none ofthe disadvantages of well known types of mtlltl art insulators intended for use particularly in connection with very high voltages.

Anotherimportant object of the invention is the provision of a method in which vibration is utilized during the compression of the clay by the dies as I have discovered that vibrating clay results not only in compacting 7 it but also in breakmg up any lamlnatlons' resulting from the action of the pug mill and other apparatus used in the preparatory stages, the elimination of such lammatlons resulting in greater homogeneity and over coming any tendency of theshaped insulator to crack or break during drying and subsequent firing.

In addition to the broad method involved, the invention has for an important object the vibration to the clay,

provision of a novel apparatus by means of whichthe method may be carried out, the

tion and the arrangement and combination of'parts to behereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompany-ing drawings in which: 3 F ig'ure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus or machine for carrying out my method,

Figure 2 is a viewlon a larger scale, parts beiiw in elevation and other parts in section, showing the stationary'die and one of the relatively movable dies, v "Figure 3- is across sectional view through the stationary die and the intermediate mov able die showing the condition of the clay after the first'step in the operation, and

Figure 4is a similar view but also showing the secondrelatively movable or*finaldie" and the finalcondition of the clay. r Inits broadest aspect, my invention comprises plungingor compressing a mass of clay between relatively stationary and movable dies shaped to give the proper and desired configuration to the top surface, the underside of the top and a portion of the periphery of the insulator with'the surplus clay forced out and projecting upwardly in column form beyond the relatively movable die, andthen plunging or compressing this protruding columnby means of another relatively movable die for completingthe shaping of the periphery and for forming the undersidevof the lower portion of theinsula-f tor,the insulator being formed preferably, though not necessarily, in'the inverted posi tion described for the sake of convenience, these operations or method steps being carried out with or withoutthe' application of though the former is machine or apparatus by means of which this broadly described operation or method may be carr ed out. Referring-to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates a relatively stationary mold which may be of any ordinary orpreferred mechanical construction and which has a cavity 2 therein of a con-' figuration to give the desired-shapeto thertop of the insulator to be formed. The numeral 3 designates a relatively movable mold adapted to engage and compress a mass of clayt placed in the cavity 2, and having a curved under-surface 5 of a configuration to give the proper shape tothe outstanding skirt6 of the insulator, and also formed with a flaring cen tral opening 7 l Vhile the opening 7 may be varied in some respects, it is intended to be of such configuration as to give the proper shape to theexterior of the intermediate portion 8 of the body ofthe insulator, including the top'surface of the outermost petticoat 9, though this shaping will coactionjof the molds 1 and 3 alone as the method-of making the'insulator involves the subsequent use of. an additional relatively movable mold 10 which has a projection 11 thereon intended and adaptedflto enter the clay for forming the usual pin receiving recess 12 therein.- In addition to having the projection 11, the mold 10 has its undersurface groovec asat 13 for the entrance of clay thereinto to define the vusual petticoat 14 on the insulator. In addition to these two features, the 1110111 10 is intended to have its underside of such configuration as to give the proper shape to the underside of the petticoat 9. V

u ()n account'of thepeculiar shape of vthe insulator, that is to say on account of the provision of the downwardly curved skirt 6 and the outwardly flaring petticoat 9, the mold 1 must be formed in-sections and it isftherefore representedas including a central por tion 15 in which a sectional ring or segments 16 surrounding the same and detachably connected therewith as by pins, tubular elements 17 or the like which are fixed with respect either to the central portion '15 or the ring sections or segments and removable with respect either to the ring sections or the central portion, as. thecase may be. It is likewise obvious that any other suitable means might be used for holding these parts assembled though tubular elements such as those shown are of advantage as use bemade of them for apply.- ingsuction or pressure to or through the mold 1, and especiallythe centralportion 15 there of in case the :same is formed of porous material such for instance as plaster of Paris,

it being well known thatthe application of,

suction during molding is advantageous in "held together not result from the connection the cavity 2 is formed, and

removing any entrapped air which might cause inequalities in the clay surface, and that the application of air pressure is likewise advantageous for facilitating the removalof the molded insulator from the mold. For similar reasons, the mold 3 must likewise'be made of sections here represented as by a metal band 18 which may have terminal ears 19 connectedby a bolt 20' or the like- In the present instance the sections of the mold 3 are represented as hav ing an outstanding flange 21 overlying the band 18. The mold 10 is of course simply of solid construction. It might be mentioned in passing that all of the mold members may be of. any desired material though a porous structure is preferable for the lowermost or relatively stationary one.

,In the carrying out of my method by means of-such' dies, it is of coursenecessary that the-different die members be assembled in their proper relation and brought into compressing enga considerable force or pressure in order to eitect -,-the shaping. While this might be brought aboutin difi'erent ways, have illustratecl a -mechanical apparatus or machine for accomplishing the purpose, it being, however, understood that variations from what is shown might be resorted to in several particulars. Referring to Figure 1, it will be noted that I have provided a supporting frame22 includinga base portion 23, an upright- 2 1 and superposed vertically spaced arms 25 and 26, allof which elements are shown without detail] Slidable vertically hrough the arms 25 and 26 is a rod or shaft 27 constructed at its lower end to carry the mold '3 or the mold 10, the exact method of therewith being immaterial though the lower end of the rod 27 maybe threaded as shown for engagement within a threaded socket 29 in the moldlO, or within a threaded socket 30 in a disk 31 having means for carrying the mold 3. This means may very easily comprise spring clips 32 serod'or' shaft 27 may be moved vertically as by means of a lever 35 pivoted at 36 on the upright '24 and having a slot 37 engaging upon a pin 38 projectinggfrom the rod or shaft 2?. The levermay be equipped at one end with aflhand-le 39 and may have its other end carrying a weight 40 for counterbalancing purposes. As it is a very important feature to vibrate the selectively usable relatively movable molds during their movement, I have shown an air hammer or any other desired type of vibration producingidevice in dicatedat l1 carried by or otherwise congement with the clay with to say the ring sections or segments 16 haying been engaged about the central member 15, this mold is placed on the base portion 23 of the machine in coaxial relation to the rod or shaft 27. Any centering means for determining this position may obviously be used. The disk 31 is then engaged upon the rod or shaft 27, the sections of the mold 3 are assembled and held together by the band 18 and screw or bolt 20, and this assembled mold is then engaged within the clips 32, the shoulders 33 of which will snap into engagement beneath the band 18. The operator then places a billet of clay in the cavity 2 and then grasps the handle 39 and moves the lever 35 downwardly while at the same time whatever valve device is associated with the air line 42 is opened to bring about actuation of the air hammer or vibrator 411. As the lever 35 is brought down the mold 3 will engage the clay billet and compress it within the cavity 2 which will give-"the proper shape for the top surface of the insulator it being noted that the insulator is represented as made in inverted position. The convex lower surface 5 of the mold or die 3 will give the proper shape to the undersurface of the skirt 6 which is formed between the central portion 15of the mold 1 and the mold 3. The surplus clay will be extruded upwardly through the opening 7 and will stand as a column as shown in Figure 3. It should be understood that this compressing action is effected simultane ously with the vibratory effect to obtain the best results though satisfactory results can be obtained even thoughthe vibratmg feai; andthe. lever 35 again moved downwardly,

preferably while the vibrator is in action, tobring this die 10 into compress ng engage. ment with the clay column which extends withinthe opening 7 in the die or mold 3. As the die 10 is forced home, the 'pro ection 11 groove 13 and other portions of 1ts lower surface will engagethe clay and define the pettico-ats 9 and 14 and also the pin hole or recess 12. The forcing of the clay against the wall of the opening 7 W111 givethe proper shape to the body 8 of the insulator and the exterior of the petticoat 9. Any surplus clay will of course be extruded at theslight space 43 at the outer edge of the die 10. The lever 35 is again moved upwardly to withdraw the die 10 from the insulator, the band 18 is removed, the ring sections or segments 16 are removed, and the sections" of the mold 3 separated and removed whereupon the-insulator will be left standing in invertedposition uponthei central portion 15 of the mold 1. This member 15 'carryingthe insulator may then be set away infsome suitable place while the .clay hardens and dries to a certain extent, subsequently to which the "insulator is removed, glazed and fired 1n the usual manner, these subsequent steps not forming part of the present invention. a

In actual practice I have discovered that by vibrating the mold or die members; during the act of compressinglyengagingthem with the clay great homogeneityof the clay is brought about, subsequent t'estsindicating a closer texture, greater. compactness and a total absence of laminationswhich, gas

well known, cause cracking and breaking of the insulator sometimes during drying and. Of course the. method 1s capable of being carried outwith sometimes during firing.

the vibrating feature omitted but its advantages are so marked that I prefer toinclude it as. a step in the operation.

From the foregoingdescriptionand a study of the drawlngs it will be apparent that I have thus provided a novel method, and means for carrying it out, of making.

insulators in'one piece but having, all the advantages of those of the multi-parttype.

Joints between sections are eliminated with the benefits derived from the absence of cement which, on account of its hygroscopic nature, expands or swells and frequently causes breakage. Furthermore by my method andmeans it is possible to construct insulators of such shape as to preclude their formation in the ordinary known,manner. It is believed that the advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art 1 without further explanation.

While I have shown and described .the preferred method and a certain mechanical apparatus for carrying it out, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplification of the principles involved and that the right is reserved to make all such changes as will not depart from the spirit of the 1nvent1on or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the: invention, I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character scribed, a sectional moldadapt ed toqhave plastic clay placed therein a sectional die.

havmg a central opening andadapted to cooperate with saidmold for shaping the clay and for extruding a portion thereof through the opening, and a second die adapted to engage said extruded portion for shaping the same.

- 2. In an scribed, a sectional mold adapted to have plastic clay placed therein, a sectional die having a central opening and adapted tocooperate with said mold' for shaping the clay and for extruding a portion thereof through the opening, a second die adapted to enga ef said extruded portion for shaping the same, and means for clay.

In an apparatus for forming porcelain insulators, a 'mold adapted to have clay dis- -mold and acting to eXtrudea portion-10f the clay through the opening, and a second die adapted to compressingly engage said extr'uded portion and shaped to define'the undersurfaces of the insulator.

. 4. In an apparatus ofthe character described, a sectional mold, a relatively movable sectional die adapted to cooperate therewith and having a central opening, and a second relatively movabledie adapted to cooperate with said first named relatively movable die. p r 5. In an apparatusof the character (lo-- scribed, a supporting structure, a member slidable with'respect thereto, a mold supported upon said structure, and selectively usable dies carried by said member for cooperation with said mold and with each other.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting structure, a member slidable with respect thereto, a mold supported upon said structure, selectively usable V dies carried by said member for cooperation wlth sard mold and with each other, and .v1-

bration producing means connected with said member@ 7. In a devlce of the character descr bed, a support, a sectional mold mounted thereon,

a shaft slidably mounted on the support in axial relationto the mold, and a plurality of sequentially operable dies iremovably carried by said shaft for cooperation with the mold and with each other. a

8. In an apparatus of the character 'described, a sectional mold including a central portion and a removable peripheral portion,

a centrally apertured die adapted to cooper- I ate with said mold and formed of sections,

means for holding said sections assembled,

apparatus of: the character demeans-for raising and lowering said die with respect to the mold, and meansfor detachably connecting said die with said raising and lowering means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. I KENT A. HAWLEY;

vibrating the dies and the 

